S. Husbands Gets A Year? What Other Jocks Don't Ride To Wire?

[CSC]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

There is no way any of us can tell if a jockey should "ride" his horse to the wire completely. The horse can be injured for all we know!! and only the jockey can feel that. I'd never question a jockey's decision to let the horse finish under their own power.

Don't forget the Owner and the Trainer were also present in the hearing, they could have went to bat for Husbands if they wanted to, given the length of this suspension it would seem they were reluctant to do so. Though it is just speculation on my part.

[brianwspencer]

It certainly didn't look like he was trying all that hard at any point in the stretch and it's the kind of race that would have made me furious as a bettor, and at the very least it's suspicious based on Patrick's title fight.

Would be interested to know all of the details that went into it.

[Round Pen]

OK Gang I am Going to try and shed a little light on this for you guys I do know Patrick and Simon Husbands very well. THese to guys are brothers but they really don't get along that well. Simon would be one of the last peope to try and help his brother win a riding title.

CSC the owner and trainer which in this case is all in the family did go to bat for Simon, Attached below is a Statement from John Leblanc on a local Blog of Jennifer Morrison. One thing to remember is that this statement was made before Simon Was Suspended.


December 2, 2008
Well, here it is straight from the trainer, husband and father of the owners, as well as exercise rider of Bug’s Boy.


While I’m not a regular reader of the Thoroughblog site, it was brought to my attention that Ms. Morrison had made quite a mission of casting doubt on the integrity and professionalism of Simon Husbands in his handling of this horse during the running of the 3rd race on Sunday, November 30th.


Ms. Morrison neither contacted myself nor Simon for comment before her widespread, damaging remarks were published.

While it was stated, as a follow up the next day, on her blog, that other sites have discussed this issue, I will remind that the credentials held by this blog editor, are quite sold when innuendos such as these are made.

To this end I feel I must respond in Simon’s defense. I have had a great working relationship with Simon over the years, and can not speak highly enough of his honesty, integrity and willingness to assist me in my job to help a horse achieve it’s maximum potential.

Bug’s Boy was ridden by Simon exactly as I instructed him and as we discussed.

This horse dropped in for $ 16,000., last start and hit a brick wall and stopped immediately, as soon as Simon began to get aggressive with him, as many of you fault him for not doing on Sunday.

After talking to Simon, after the race and experimenting while I galloped him in the morning, I wanted to try something different. I told Simon to keep him covered up as long as possible.

Tap him on the shoulder, and DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT PUSH HIM, or HIT him, but rather hold him on the bit and nudge him.

As you can see Simon’s attention to the instruction resulted in the horse’s best finish yet. He is not the 1st horse I’ve trained that could not be hit!

This horse also did not switch leads down the stretch once again until he crossed the wire, compromising his late burst. Galloping him every morning, I can tell you he is a very quirky horse. As well, by his race record, a good horseplayer might suspect that we have been dealing with some issues!

While we wish Patrick well in his quest for the title, I believe that he’s plenty talented enough and doesn’t need his brother to be aiding him in the outcome of a race, as Ms. Morrison’s innuendo suggested in her public forum….

It should also be pointed out that I sent out 3 of our family owned horses to run the best races of their careers, with a Mdn.Alw. win, and 2, 2nd place finishes….all 3 ridden by Simon Husbands.

While we were ecstatic with the improvement Bug’s Boy showed on Sunday, still he did not win, and make no mistake, that’s what he, Simon and our family went there to do~

John LeBlanc, Jr


I have watched this race over and over And I firmly Believe that Simon Rode this horse Per instructions from the Trainer.
OK guys your thoughts on this.

Round Pen

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Round Pen

OK Gang I am Going to try and shed a little light on this for you guys I do know Patrick and Simon Husbands very well. THese to guys are brothers but they really don't get along that well. Simon would be one of the last peope to try and help his brother win a riding title.

CSC the owner and trainer which in this case is all in the family did go to bat for Simon, Attached below is a Statement from John Leblanc on a local Blog of Jennifer Morrison. One thing to remember is that this statement was made before Simon Was Suspended.


December 2, 2008
Well, here it is straight from the trainer, husband and father of the owners, as well as exercise rider of Bug’s Boy.


While I’m not a regular reader of the Thoroughblog site, it was brought to my attention that Ms. Morrison had made quite a mission of casting doubt on the integrity and professionalism of Simon Husbands in his handling of this horse during the running of the 3rd race on Sunday, November 30th.


Ms. Morrison neither contacted myself nor Simon for comment before her widespread, damaging remarks were published.

While it was stated, as a follow up the next day, on her blog, that other sites have discussed this issue, I will remind that the credentials held by this blog editor, are quite sold when innuendos such as these are made.

To this end I feel I must respond in Simon’s defense. I have had a great working relationship with Simon over the years, and can not speak highly enough of his honesty, integrity and willingness to assist me in my job to help a horse achieve it’s maximum potential.

Bug’s Boy was ridden by Simon exactly as I instructed him and as we discussed.

This horse dropped in for $ 16,000., last start and hit a brick wall and stopped immediately, as soon as Simon began to get aggressive with him, as many of you fault him for not doing on Sunday.

After talking to Simon, after the race and experimenting while I galloped him in the morning, I wanted to try something different. I told Simon to keep him covered up as long as possible.

Tap him on the shoulder, and DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT PUSH HIM, or HIT him, but rather hold him on the bit and nudge him.

As you can see Simon’s attention to the instruction resulted in the horse’s best finish yet. He is not the 1st horse I’ve trained that could not be hit!

This horse also did not switch leads down the stretch once again until he crossed the wire, compromising his late burst. Galloping him every morning, I can tell you he is a very quirky horse. As well, by his race record, a good horseplayer might suspect that we have been dealing with some issues!

While we wish Patrick well in his quest for the title, I believe that he’s plenty talented enough and doesn’t need his brother to be aiding him in the outcome of a race, as Ms. Morrison’s innuendo suggested in her public forum….

It should also be pointed out that I sent out 3 of our family owned horses to run the best races of their careers, with a Mdn.Alw. win, and 2, 2nd place finishes….all 3 ridden by Simon Husbands.

While we were ecstatic with the improvement Bug’s Boy showed on Sunday, still he did not win, and make no mistake, that’s what he, Simon and our family went there to do~

John LeBlanc, Jr


I have watched this race over and over And I firmly Believe that Simon Rode this horse Per instructions from the Trainer.
OK guys your thoughts on this.

Round Pen

Thanks for bringing this to light, this could have all been avoided if there was information to the public that the horse was to be ridden in this manner. I know in Hong Kong the trainers give information to the public if a horse is to be ridden from off the pace to protect the integrity of the wagers. Now I have certainly heard of instructions of not using a whip on a horse where the program will list a Jock from not carrying a whip, but not urging a horse is an entirely new thing all together, if the Trainer had told the public he was instructing the rider to do so, let's face it who was going to bet this horse? I don't know what to make of this, I wouldn't criticize Ms. Morrison too much as she was thinking what any sane person would. Still with this testamony Husbands was suspended, I doubt we have heard the entire story or the last of this incident.

[Round Pen]

IF anyone has not seen the race here is a link from youtube Simon is on #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5dpfoTLRNA

[Round Pen]

Just was wondering if the trainer had reported to the stewards Prior to the race that the above instructions were going to be given to the jock could this all have been avoided???????

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Round Pen

Just was wondering if the trainer had reported to the stewards Prior to the race that the above instructions were going to be given to the jock could this all have been avoided???????

I was just thinking the same thing.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by CSC

Thanks for bringing this to light, this could have all been avoided if there was information to the public that the horse was to be ridden in this manner. I know in Hong Kong the trainers give information to the public if a horse is to be ridden from off the pace to protect the integrity of the wagers. Now I have certainly heard of instructions of not using a whip on a horse where the program will list a Jock from not carrying a whip, but not urging a horse is an entirely new thing all together, if the Trainer had told the public he was instructing the rider to do so, let's face it who was going to bet this horse? I don't know what to make of this, I wouldn't criticize Ms. Morrison too much as she was thinking what any sane person would. Still with this testamony Husbands was suspended, I doubt we have heard the entire story or the last of this incident.

They dont give this info before the race to the public but they do make the stewards aware if they are going to have a drastic change in tactics. The stewards are far more proactive there post race about speaking to the riders and trainers and reporting the findings back to the public.

http://www.hkracingform.com/stew_e.htm

Lots of horses run better with the bit held hard in their mouth and when the jocks dont just throw the reins away. After watching the race if he wanted to get beat he could have just stayed on the rail and get squeezed with the perfect ready made excuse that the horses wouldnt come through the hole. I have seen much worse but having your brother be on the winner makes it look even worse.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

They dont give this info before the race to the public but they do make the stewards aware if they are going to have a drastic change in tactics. The stewards are far more proactive there post race about speaking to the riders and trainers and reporting the findings back to the public.

http://www.hkracingform.com/stew_e.htm

Lots of horses run better with the bit held hard in their mouth and when the jocks dont just throw the reins away. After watching the race if he wanted to get beat he could have just stayed on the rail and get squeezed with the perfect ready made excuse that the horses wouldnt come through the hole. I have seen much worse but having your brother be on the winner makes it look even worse.

Yeah I really mean't to say the information is passed onto the public, the HK telecasts are very informative, they usually make comments in their broadcasts such as a horse is to be ridden off the pace today.

As for Husbands ride, though I understand what you are saying. I don't understand what he was trying to accomplish with that ride except if he was indeed taking instructions from Leblanc, he shouldn't have been penalized. Which begs the question why did the stewards suspend him for a year? Seems excessive given the information we have. Stewards don't usually suspend a jockey for a year without good reason.

[docicu3]

Can anyone remember this happening (the suspension of a full year) in this country. Maybe we'll have Morty call into the show today and comment on it.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Dumb fkn animal, or a dumb fkn jock(one or the other.)

[SCUDSBROTHER]

You got to love the arrogance of a trainer getting mad at people for complaining about a jock (with a whip) never using the whip. He really expects people to not say anything when a horse appears full of run, and is never hit? This is a betting race. Trainers want the right to put a jock(with a whip) on a horse and tell him not to hit the horse? Not tell the stewards? Not tell the bettors? Don't try to bullsht a bunch of part-time bullsht artists. Somebody deserved some pain, and I don't particularly care which one of you got it. Go do this in Louisiana.

[CSC]

Chuck made an effort to explain, some horses run with the bit held hard in their mouth. Ok I understand that, regardless I have never seen a Jockey so seemingly unmotivated to win a race as this one. All you have to do is watch the race to understand why the stewards made their decision.

Honestly if I were the Owner I'd be left scratching my head with the trainer's explanation. Basically the trainer is saying the less the jockey does in urging his mount the better it will do.

In essence don't hit, don't try and all is well, an interesting concept....

[Round Pen]

One thing I think needs to be added about this discussion is the fact that bug's boy is a maiden that had raced 6 or 7 times previously and had never been close. (I am not defending anyone Here) But as the J Leblanc has Stated

Bug’s Boy was ridden by Simon exactly as I instructed him and as we discussed

And low and behold Bug's Boy runs the best race of his life and also recieved the highest beyer that he had ever gotten.

So maybe just maybe Mr leblanc was on to something here. Keep the bit in the horses mouth without using the whip and without vigorious hand riding.
Because it is quite obvious that those two things did not work to well in his first 6 or 7 starts.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by CSC

Chuck made an effort to explain, some horses run with the bit held hard in their mouth. Ok I understand that, regardless I have never seen a Jockey so seemingly unmotivated to win a race as this one. All you have to do is watch the race to understand why the stewards made their decision.

Honestly if I were the Owner I'd be left scratching my head with the trainer's explanation. Basically the trainer is saying the less the jockey does in urging his mount the better it will do.

In essence don't hit, don't try and all is well, an interesting concept....

Bob Baffert had a horse like that

maybe Samba Rooster... I can't remember but I remember what Baffert said, "he has to think that he is running off with you.. something something

basically if you hit him, he will stop.

any good stiff job happens on the backstretch not on the homestretch.

I can't get a good replay to see what is happening in this instance